Bon Jovi Live in Malaysia 2015

Bon Jovi Live in Malaysia 2015

I don’t even know how to begin putting into words what it was like to catch Bon Jovi live — something I’ve been dreaming of since 2002 when I first chanced upon ‘Runaway’ on Limewire.

I use the term ‘surreal’ in many situations but I think this is one single moment that properly garner the effect. It felt like a dream, like it went by way too fast, but it has also etched itself insanely vivid in my mind. I can still smell the grass of Stadium Merdeka, the sweat of many people waiting in anticipation, the metallic veil in the air following the afternoon shower that stopped just 2 hours short of the concert.

But most of all, I still remember the electrifying energy reverberating through the stadium as fans of all ages waited, cheered and screamed for the band to come on stage.

When they did finally come on, to the opening chords of ‘Who Says’ strummed from an acoustic guitar by Jon himself, no less, the biggest wave of emotions came together and collided in the biggest, brightest explosion in my chest. Ten years and more of listening to them on first my CD-man, my Sony Walkman phone, my iPhone, not to mention the countless loops on iTunes throughout school and days in the office, doesn’t come remotely close to hearing them live.

Tears sprung involuntarily to my eyes — something I’ve been dreaming of for more than 10 years is finally happening — and for some reason, I couldn’t stop smiling no matter how hard I tried. I didn’t only get to see them live, they played all my favourite tracks too (except ‘Runaway’, but I’ll let that go).

This is what it feels like to want something so bad and finally be there to see it come true.

This is what it feels like to be a Saturday night after too many Mondays.